A knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” Tilda called out, thinking it was just a server. But to her surprise, it was a young man who looked vaguely familiar.
He stopped for a second, like he hadn’t expected to see such a gorgeous woman opening the door. Then he peered inside and saw there were just three people in the room.
Dane sat at the table, calm and unbothered, still eating. He even picked up some food and placed it carefully on the plate of the girl beside him.
“Are you Tilda?” The young man seemed to recognize her. He looked like someone who might have played with them as kids.
But everyone grew up and found their own circles.
“And you are...?” Tilda had no idea who he was.
She tried to place him. Nothing.
“It’s me. Nathan, the youngest from the Dale family.” He said his name like it might help.
“Nathan?” The name finally jogged her memory.
The Dales had lost their prominence a long time ago. Nathan had moved abroad as a teenager. She hadn’t expected him to be back.
“Didn’t think you’d still remember me,” Nathan laughed.
“I was wondering who Dane was going to say hi to. So it was you,” Tilda said.
“Hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
Tilda looked at Dane, a knowing suspicion flashing through her mind. Was Dane actually meeting a group for dinner? Or was he just bored of whatever business dinner he’d been dragged into, and used this as an excuse to slip away? She wouldn’t put it past him.
“Yeah, just a little get-together,” Nathan adjusted, glancing at the girl next to Dane. “And you are?”
Dane introduced her, “This is Claire, a family friend.”
He didn’t bother explaining further, but that was enough. Anyone with sense knew “family friend” meant Bluebloods only.
Nathan grinned. “You guys should come join us. The chef’s about to serve The Grand Landscape.”
Tilda was already halfway out the door. “Come on, I want to see it too.”
They made their way to the other private room. Tilda didn’t recognize any of the other guests, but that never stopped her from starting up a conversation.
Claire, though, wrinkled her nose as soon as they walked in. The air was heavy with the smell of cigarette smoke.
Nathan, quick on the uptake, piped up right away, “Hey, gentlemen, the ladies have arrived. Mind putting those cigarettes out?”
The group looked at them, realized the women weren’t just casual guests, and obediently stubbed out their smokes.
Claire found herself seated next to Dane. She had barely settled in when two servers arrived, carefully carrying in The Grand Landscape.
The dish was huge, taking up two-thirds of the table. The staff had already cleared off everything else to make space.
Everyone whipped out their phones, trying to get a good shot. Claire stared, genuinely impressed. Every part of the dish was perfectly crafted, the colors and shapes coming together to form a beautiful landscape, just like a painting.
It really was as spectacular as everyone said.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Billionaire's True Heiress From Fake Jewel to Real Crown